Sunday 7 December 2014
Saturday 6 December 2014
Friday 5 December 2014
Eye opening TED talk with fabulous graphics
Hans Rosling: The best stats you've ever seen #TED : http://on.ted.com/e0bjk
Wednesday 19 November 2014
Wandering around the City of London
Spent a day wandering around the streets of London, in particular the City of London, taking photos. The place may not be paved with gold, but there is an untold wealth of statues and buildings (both ancient and modern).
The thing that I like in these kind of wanderings, with no actual planned route, just going where the walking muse takes me, is that you find unexpected delights.
Found a pub called, "The Bell", which has the words, "You can ring my", in the windows to the left of the sign, "The Bell", and the words "Ding Dong" in the windows to the right. Amused me (but then he is easily amused - gags ed)
Also came across an old building with the words: "Way Out", above a door to the left, the words "Soup Kitchen For The Jewish Poor", and the words "Way In" above the door to the right. Reminded me of the hard times Londoners have had in the past. These days it is food banks that seem on the rise rather than Soup Kitchens.
Found Petticoat Market, which was a turn up, didn't know where it was in London, so was delighted to come across it. It seems to be a wonderful selection of fabric shops and stalls, with some fabrics patterns and colours which would be perfect for shirts. Now if only I knew someone with the skill to make shirts, hmm.
Also came across Spitalfields Market, which again was a bonus, had no idea it was in that neck of the woods (for my overseas readers this phrase means - "In that area" - overseas ed). Seems to be composed of some very upmarket shops and stalls. Just outside it found a bevy of trees in glorious Autumnal colours, if you like trees you'll love these (that is strangely evocative of an old advert - old advert alerter ed)
The other thing about wandering around the City of London, is that you come across views of the modern buildings as you turn corners, The Gherkin, The Cheesgrater, The Walkietalkie. But my preferred one is, "The Gherkin". We (that is Bridget and I - we ed) call this the "Lurkin' Gherkin" as it tends to hide itself behind the other large buildings in the city and you can see parts of it poking out here and there.
It is also a good centre point to ensure that I didn't go too far off the beaten track.
I ended up walking back to Bank, then Monument, then over the bridge and past Southwark Cathedral, along the South Bank past the Tate Modern, just past which I came across the Royal Watercolour Society Gallery on Bankside. This was a find, as I have walked past it a number of times without spotting it. Free to enter, and has probably one hundred or so paintings on display, only a few of which attracted me, but worth a few minutes of your time if you are in the area.
Last couple of photos are of the entrance to Waterloo Station - which would be even more impressive if they were not covered with anti-pigeon netting.
The thing that I like in these kind of wanderings, with no actual planned route, just going where the walking muse takes me, is that you find unexpected delights.
Found a pub called, "The Bell", which has the words, "You can ring my", in the windows to the left of the sign, "The Bell", and the words "Ding Dong" in the windows to the right. Amused me (but then he is easily amused - gags ed)
Also came across an old building with the words: "Way Out", above a door to the left, the words "Soup Kitchen For The Jewish Poor", and the words "Way In" above the door to the right. Reminded me of the hard times Londoners have had in the past. These days it is food banks that seem on the rise rather than Soup Kitchens.
Found Petticoat Market, which was a turn up, didn't know where it was in London, so was delighted to come across it. It seems to be a wonderful selection of fabric shops and stalls, with some fabrics patterns and colours which would be perfect for shirts. Now if only I knew someone with the skill to make shirts, hmm.
Also came across Spitalfields Market, which again was a bonus, had no idea it was in that neck of the woods (for my overseas readers this phrase means - "In that area" - overseas ed). Seems to be composed of some very upmarket shops and stalls. Just outside it found a bevy of trees in glorious Autumnal colours, if you like trees you'll love these (that is strangely evocative of an old advert - old advert alerter ed)
The other thing about wandering around the City of London, is that you come across views of the modern buildings as you turn corners, The Gherkin, The Cheesgrater, The Walkietalkie. But my preferred one is, "The Gherkin". We (that is Bridget and I - we ed) call this the "Lurkin' Gherkin" as it tends to hide itself behind the other large buildings in the city and you can see parts of it poking out here and there.
It is also a good centre point to ensure that I didn't go too far off the beaten track.
I ended up walking back to Bank, then Monument, then over the bridge and past Southwark Cathedral, along the South Bank past the Tate Modern, just past which I came across the Royal Watercolour Society Gallery on Bankside. This was a find, as I have walked past it a number of times without spotting it. Free to enter, and has probably one hundred or so paintings on display, only a few of which attracted me, but worth a few minutes of your time if you are in the area.
Last couple of photos are of the entrance to Waterloo Station - which would be even more impressive if they were not covered with anti-pigeon netting.
Sunset and clouds on way to Winchester
Taking the bus from Alton to Winchester just as the sun was beginning to set. As one does, I took to the upper deck of the double-decker - and sat right at the front. Reckon a couple of the sky shots seem to remind me of Abraham Lincoln, but I might be mistaken. See if you can spot the ones that I am talking about.
Thursday 16 October 2014
Poppies in full flood
Revisited the Tower of London on another sunny day - and now the poppies look like this!
Wednesday 15 October 2014
Interesting art work and suprising skiers
It is surprising what one comes across when you walk from Waterloo to Westminster - luckily no giant penguins or giant yellow peppers today - just Landrover Discovery embedded in some art work and a bunch of skiers on the edge of Whitehall and Parliament Square.
Minty's Stag do
The reprobates in a curry house on Brick Lane before the further carousing.. I had to leave early - just in time to miss the last direct train home...
Saturday 11 October 2014
View from top of Farnham castle
View from top of Farnam castle. My brother Paul visited the other weekend, and we took him out for breakfast at Cote in Farnham. Can highly recommend Cote, excellent service and great food at very reasonable prices.
Anyhow, after our late breakfast, we thought we needed a bit of a walk to let breakfast settle, so we went up the hill to see the castle.
Now I have been living in Alton for a few years now, and I had only recently found out that Farnham had a castle (for those confused about the geography - Alton is about 10 miles or so from Alton - so quite local - geography ed). But like many things, once you know it is there, you see it all of the time. So walking into Farnham and looking up, we spotted the castle on the hill. Been to Farnham many many time and had never spotted it before.... but it is there on top of the hill. How could I have ever missed it.
The hill up to the castle is a wee bit (little bit - Scottish ed) steep, but it is well worth the walk. Views from the highest point on the castle are super. Unfortunately part of the castle was unaccessible as was being used for a wedding.
Anyhow, after our late breakfast, we thought we needed a bit of a walk to let breakfast settle, so we went up the hill to see the castle.
Now I have been living in Alton for a few years now, and I had only recently found out that Farnham had a castle (for those confused about the geography - Alton is about 10 miles or so from Alton - so quite local - geography ed). But like many things, once you know it is there, you see it all of the time. So walking into Farnham and looking up, we spotted the castle on the hill. Been to Farnham many many time and had never spotted it before.... but it is there on top of the hill. How could I have ever missed it.
The hill up to the castle is a wee bit (little bit - Scottish ed) steep, but it is well worth the walk. Views from the highest point on the castle are super. Unfortunately part of the castle was unaccessible as was being used for a wedding.
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